Dalai Lama asks Maoists to shun violence

Bhubaneshwar, Jan 11: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who is on his four-day visit to the state, urged Maoists to shun violence.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Jan 11, he said, "As I have mentioned earlier, violence is not a proper method to find a solution to a problem. Finding a solution though violence is always wrong."

"Of course I agree that there are still some people who are deprived and poor. There is still exploitation. But violence is not the solution to that," he said.

The spiritual leader further said that Maoists should leave the path of violence and repose faith in the age-old Indian tradition of ahimsa (non-violence).

Suspected Maoists killed two local traders in a village in Koraput district early on Monday, Jan 11, ahead of the Dalai Lama's visit.